Secondary School

Klasse 5 to 8 in Secondary School Stage I

Instruction in classes 5 to 8 is also given on the basis of the framework curricula for German overseas schools as approved by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the German Länder. As a result, our school is compatible with any school in Germany, whether Grammar School (Gymnasium), Intermediate Secondary School (Realschule) or General Secondary School (Hauptschule). The students work towards the school leaving exams of Secondary School stage I at the end of Klasse 10 as recognised by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the German Länder. These exams are centrally administered and managed from Germany for all types of school.

In the relatively small classes of 10 to 15 students we are in a position to offer individualised instruction, where all children receive support and are challenged according to their capabilities.

Instruction in all subjects is conducted by internal differentiation (i.e. teaching pupils with different needs within one class). Since the learning groups include Grammar School students, Intermediate Secondary School students and General Secondary School students, it is essential to provide for individualised learning processes.

The subjects of Art, Music and Physical Education are taught in English by native English speakers in courses which also include students from the British and French sections. Because of this bilingual education programme our students benefit automatically from extra support in developing their command of the English language. The structure of foreign language teaching is shown in more detail on separate pages.

Klasse 9 and 10 in Secondary School Stage I

Klasse 9 and 10 have a special status within the Secondary School Stage of the German School. Beginning with Klasse 9, the students attend a bilingual two-year programme organised jointly with the British Secondary and High School Section. This programme leads both to the school leaving exams of Secondary School stage I(Sekundar-I-Abschlussprüfung) as organised by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the German Länder (Kultusministerkonferenz/KMK) as well as to the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) of the University of Cambridge.

At the end of Klasse 9, students can acquire the General Secondary School Diploma (Hauptschulabschluss) and at the end of Klasse 10, the Intermediate Secondary School Diploma (Realschulabschluss) or entitlement to switch to the qualification phase for senior classes at Grammar School (Gymnasiale Oberstufe).

In this way, the path is open for students to continue their school education either in Germany, or at other German Overseas Schools, or to change over to other international school programmes.

The written exams are drawn up in Germany on behalf of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the German Länder and students sit these exams at the German Overseas School. The Commissioners from the “Joint Committee for Overseas Education of the Federal Government and the Länder” (“Bund-Länder-Ausschuss für schulische Arbeit im Ausland”), who are responsible for different regions worldwide, supervise these exams and ensure that standards are met.

As the students take part in the English programme within the British system, they are usually far more advanced in their first foreign language compared to their peers in Germany.

Newcomers to the IGCSE programme and students coming from the German school system who want to enter Klasse 9, are required to take part in an entrance exam in order to determine their English language proficiency and knowledge in mathematics and experimental sciences.

Klasse 11 and 12 in Secondary School Stage II

The IB Organisation in Geneva offers the IB programme for acquisition of the IB Diploma (International Baccalaureate) on a worldwide basis.

Only schools with authorisation from the IB Organisation are entitled to teach this programme. The IB is internationally recognised by nearly all colleges and universities. However, there are special regulations for some countries. You will find more information on this aspect on the website of the IB Organisation.

Concerning recognition of the IB Diploma, the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the German Länder has laid down guidelines as of December 2013 for the exact designation of the subjects that the students must sign up for and for calculation of their average grades. If these guidelines are adhered to, then the IB is recognised as a higher education entrance qualification in Germany.

Three of these courses are taken at a higher level in the advanced course (Leistungskurs) and the other three at a standard level in the basic course (Grundkurs). In addition, students have the opportunity to study Theory of Knowledge (TOK) and undertake Creativity Action and Service (CAS) that focuses on the development of social skills and personality.

With the exception of German (at native speaker level), subjects in the IB programme are taught in English.

Taipei European School has been teaching IB German in the A area with great success. During the German classes in this two-year programme, students read 12 works at the standard level and 15 works at the higher level, taken from the genres of world literature, detailed study, groups of works and school’s free choice. Three of these works are compulsory and are taken from the world canon of literature. The other works are intended to make the students familiar with history, philosophy and discourses of the their home country.

When completing the IB programme, the students sit centralised exams, held worldwide, in all subjects with grades given by the IB.